Avis sur Steelseries Arctis 9

Our Verdict

The SteelSeries Arctis 9 feels and sounds great, although it's quite pricey, even taking into account all of its features.

For

Comfortable fit

Compatible with many systems

Great mic

Good game sound

Versus

Below-average music performance

Expensive

Today's best SteelSeries Arctis 9 deals

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless...

SteelSeries

$199.99

Seen

SteelSeries Arctis 9X...

SteelSeries

$199.99

Seen

See similar Amazon US

Amazon

No pricing information

Check Amazon

See all prices (3 found)

The SteelSeries Arctis 9 demonstrates that the Danish audio manufacturer still has ambition to spare. While the

SteelSeries Arctis 7

has been our

best gaming headset

choice for years, it also came out at a time when smartphones still largely had headphone jacks. Bluetooth is now often the only way to get audio from a mobile device without a dongle, and the Arctis 9 is one of the few gaming headsets with built-in Bluetooth connectivity.

The Arctis 9 connects effortlessly to PC, PS4, Switch (docked) and mobile platforms, and with a 3.5mm audio cable, it also connects to Xbox One, Switch (handheld) and older audio devices of all stripes. In all other respects it's very similar to the Arctis 7 - for better and for worse.

Like the Arctis 7, the Arctis 9 features a beautiful and comfortable design, good in-game sound, and a crystal-clear mic. But also like the Arctis 7, the sound quality isn't quite what you expect. you'd expect for the price, especially since the Arctis 9 is $200 instead of the more manageable $150.

You're essentially paying $50 more for Bluetooth functionality, which is handy, but might not be worth the price. It's also that the Arctis 9 knocks you through a few connectivity hurdles, given that another SteelSeries product, the

SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless for Xbox

, basically solved the dongle problem once and for all.

I'm not convinced the Arctis 9 is the best headset you can get for $200, but with good performance and a great design, it's at least in the running. Learn more in our full SteelSeries Arctis review 9.

SteelSeries Arctis 9 (Black) at SteelSeries for $199.99

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Design

Right off the bat, the SteelSeries Arctis 9 deserves kudos for doing what so few other gaming headsets do and for separating the dials for overall volume and chat volume.

(Image credit: SteelSeries)

The volume wheel is on the right earcup, along with the mic mute button, Bluetooth button, charging port, and 3.5mm audio jack. On the left earcup, you'll find a mixing dial and nothing else. This makes it effortless to tell the two dials apart, unlike many other gaming headsets, which inexplicably place the two dials next to each other.

(Image credit: SteelSeries)

Beyond that, the Arctis 9 features the classic Arctis design you've almost certainly seen before: a lightweight, plain black plastic chassis with a bungee band across the top. There's a retractable mic in the left earcup, and not much else for adornment. You can very easily wear this headset out of the house without a single wandering glance. There's no RGB lighting or inventive design; It's just a stylish and comfortable gaming headset.

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Comfort

Like other Arctis headsets, the SteelSeries Arctis 9 uses what SteelSeries calls a "ski goggle" design. Instead of adjustable notches, the Arctis 9 features an elastic headband that automatically adjusts to your head every time you wear it. That means there's no tedious fiddling with the notches, even if you share the headset with a spouse or roommate. I've always said I wish more of gaming companies are embracing this design, but as headsets like the

Logitech G733

prove, the design is not as simple as SteelSeries makes it seem.

(Image credit: SteelSeries)

The bottom line is that between its plush ear cups and effortless headband, the Arctis 9 is comfortable to wear for hours and almost guarantees a perfect fit from the moment you put it on.

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Performance

I tested the SteelSeries Arctis 9 with a variety of games for PC, PS4, Switch, and Android, including Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Ghost of Tsushima, Star Trek Online, and Doom Eternal. What I heard was very good across the board. I particularly liked the subtlety of the directional sound. This is useful when dealing with a horde of flying demons in Doom, but it's surprisingly equally effective when you can hear your villagers chopping firewood. one side and mine gold on the other in Age of Empires.

(Image credit: SteelSeries)

Although the Arctis 9 isn't announced for the Nintendo Switch, it does work in docked mode. orchestral soundtrack of Monument Valley 2.

(Image credit: SteelSeries)

My only complaint about the Arctis 9's gaming performance is that the sound isn't much different than the SteelSeries Arctis 7, which itself didn't have the richest or most nuanced soundscape. sound is overall good especially for gaming.But compared to other $200 wireless gaming headset like the

Logitech Pro X Wireless

, it lacks a bit of depth and subtlety. This is especially true for music, which has very little bass and a flat, lifeless profile across genres.

Features of SteelSeries Arctis 9

The SteelSeries Arctis 9 is a feature-rich headset, with no less than four ways to connect to various devices, as well as compatibility with the SteelSeries Engine software. While SteelSeries Engine was not compatible with the Arctis 9 when of our review window (it will be soon), SteelSeries informed us that the functionality is essentially the same as for the Arctis 7. This means that you will be able to adjust equalizations, configure profiles for individual games and so on. after.

The biggest issue this time around is that the Arctis 9 supports Bluetooth, which is a first in a SteelSeries wireless headset. Functionally, that means you can pair the Arctis 9 wirelessly with mobile devices. You can also use Bluetooth for PC connectivity and keep the Arctis 9's dongle connected to a PS4, which is a bit less hassle than constantly plugging and unplugging the USB connector.

(Image credit: SteelSeries)

I'm of two minds about Bluetooth connectivity. On the one hand, it's great for the Arctis 9 to offer wireless connectivity with mobile devices. On the other hand, the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless arguably solved this problem in a more elegant way: with a USB-C dongle. Without going into a full comparison, the USB-C dongle is both smaller and more versatile than the USB-A dongle that comes with the Arctis 9, especially since the Arctis 9 dongle requires you to switch between PC and PS4 connectivity.

The mic is also worth discussing here. The voice quality is crystal clear, and the mic itself is easy to retract, easy to extend, and impossible to lose. I wish more gaming headset mics were designed in such a way so simple and smart.

SteelSeries Arctis 9 Verdict

In our SteelSeries Arctis 9 review, we discussed the device's great fit, good sound quality, and impressive Bluetooth connectivity. Still, at $200, it's one of the mainstream gaming headsets the most expensive on the market, and it's hard to get rid of the feeling that it should sound a bit better, especially for music.

(Image credit: SteelSeries)

Still, I really enjoyed using the Arctis 9 for gaming and productivity, especially since it's so portable. In the same price range, I would consider (and maybe I'd even opt for) the Logitech G Pro X Wireless, but it depends on whether you prefer comfort (Arctis 9) or sound quality (Pro X Wireless). You can't go wrong with either option.

Marshal Honorof

Marshall Honorof is an editor for Tom's Guide, covering gaming gear, safety, and streaming video. After hours, you can find him practicing taekwondo or taking deep dives on classic sci-fi .